The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of "Cyrano de Bergerac," starring Adrian Lester, has been lauded as a "masterly must-see" by critics. The play, running at the Noel Coward Theatre in London until September 5, is being praised for its "swash and buckle," "wonderful writing," and "super-clever costumes" that bridge past and present.
Lester portrays the titular character, a soldier and writer known for his prominent nose and equally large personality. His performance is described as embodying "panache," with his wit and wordplay as sharp and heroic as his sword fighting. The production itself is noted for being "beautifully spoken."
The narrative centers on Cyrano's assistance to the less eloquent Christian (played by Levi Brown) in wooing the beautiful Roxane (Susannah Fielding). Cyrano, driven by his own unrequited love for Roxane, composes passionate love letters on Christian's behalf, believing she could never be attracted to him due to his facial feature. The play delves into the emotional impact of Cyrano's childhood mockery for his nose, which he seemingly uses as a protective 'armour.'
A particularly striking scene involves Roxane, who has fallen in love with Christian through his letters, demanding to hear him speak. Cyrano seamlessly adopts Christian's accent, demonstrating his linguistic prowess. However, the review highlights that when Christian finally speaks for himself, his simple declaration of love and a kiss underscore the idea that words can sometimes be secondary.
Susannah Fielding's portrayal of Roxane is also recognized for its matching "panache," but her performance of quiet devastation upon discovering Cyrano's deception, uttering "You wasted me," leaves a lasting impression. The play concludes with Cyrano, despite his eloquence, finding himself unable to speak, a moment described as "brilliant" and "devastating."